Abstract
The study describes the long-term outcome of a program aimed at the prevention of eating disorders in a world-class, residential ballet school for female and male students, ages 10–18. The prevention program followed the paradigm of health promoting schools outlined by the World Health Organization and involved systemic changes as well as direct interventions with students. Three all-school surveys have been conducted, the baseline survey was conducted in 1987, within the first year of implementation of the program, and the second and third ones in 1991 and 1996, respectively. Measures included the Diagnostic Survey for Eating Disorders, the Eating Attitude Test, and the Eating Disorder Inventory. Comparisons between the baseline cohort and the two latter cohorts, revealed significant reductions in disordered eating patterns and disturbed attitudes about eating and body shape, as well as significant increases in healthy eating patterns. The study suggests the benefits of implementing multifaceted prevention programs for eating disorders in high risk settings.
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Piran, N. Eating Disorders: A Trial of Prevention in a High Risk School Setting. The Journal of Primary Prevention 20, 75–90 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021358519832
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021358519832